1. How might a particular actual or hypothetical argument that a worthwhile goal (end) justifies use of unethical persuasive techniques (means) be viewed as an example of Situational Perspective?
2. What current prominent person might warrant the label of demagogue? What is your justification?
3. What ethical standards do you personally believe should guide communication on the Internet?
4. Assume that you are employed in the public relations department of a large corporation. Your supervisor assigns you to present a series of speeches to community groups in a city where your company has just built a new production facility. In the speech prepared by your supervisor, you will describe the services and advantages of the plant that will benefit the community. During a visit to the plant to familiarize yourself with its operation, you discover the plant cannot actually deliver most of the services and advantages promised in the speech. Should you go ahead and present the speech as your supervisor prepared it? Should you refuse to give it at all? What changes might you in good conscience make in the speech? Should you make any changes with or without your supervisor's approval? What ethical standards might you use in making your decisions? Why? What additional ethical issues might confront you in this situation (Adapted from McCammond, 2004)?
5. What are some examples of how physical appearance sends messages in your world? What are some examples of the way physical appearance identifies a contemporary musical artist or group?
6. With what artifacts do you surround yourself? What do they mean to you? (Some students have reported that the first thing they do after unpacking for dormitory living is to purchase "conversation pieces" or artifacts that symbolize themselves.) What about your roommate? What artifacts does he or she use? What do they symbolize about him or her? What about your family members' artifacts?
7. How often do you touch others? Try to increase the number of touches you use and observe the responses of others. Does the increase of touches have any effect? If so, what?
8. What are some examples of how chronemics operates in your life-on campus, in the dorm, in the classroom, and at home?
9. What is "blocking" behavior? Give examples from your everyday life.